Dixon wins title – but bad news for Lawrie

Englishman David Dixon’s patience paid off as he came from two shots behind to claim a one-stroke victory at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Par 3 Championship.

Dixon shot a three-under-par 51 for a tournament three under 105 at Paul Lawrie Golf Centre to pip overnight leader, Lanark’s Stephen Gray, to win the £3,750 first prize.

Gray was two strokes clear at the turn and seemingly on course for victory but birdies at 11 and 13 from Dixon levelled the match.

Gray regained the lead with a birdie at 14 but another birdie from Dixon at 16 squared matters once more.

The turning point came at the penultimate hole when Gray dropped a shot and his hopes of forcing a play-off were dashed when his putt for par lipped out from three feet.

Paul Lawrie’s son Craig finished third while Dunblane’s Heather MacRae, now based in Portugal, was the leading woman in the field, finishing on five over 113 following her second round 57.

Fifer Peter Whiteford was seven off the lead after a second round 52, while Connor Syme carded a 56 to finish one shot further back.

Blairgowrie’s Bradley Neil was 11-over par after a second round 60.

Meanwhile Lawrie Sr’s 20-year unbroken run in the Open is under threat as the Aberdonian struggles with back and foot injuries.

The Challenge Tour yesterday announced Lawrie’s involvement in the Scottish Challenge at Spey Valley on Thursday but the former Open champion contacted organisers during his final round at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Par 3 Championship to inform them he was pulling out.

Lawrie, who has played in every Open since 1998, said: “There’s no way I can play next week and I’ve let Ian Stoddart know I won’t be playing. I played here with next week in mind but there’s no way I can compete and I don’t want to take a place away from someone else who may have a chance of kicking on.

“It’s disappointing as I would have liked to have played.”

When asked if he would be fit in time for the Scottish Open and the Open, Lawrie said: “Right now I’ve honestly got no idea. I’ve been pulling out week by week and hoping it would get better but that doesn’t seem to be happening unfortunately.

““Some days I feel fine but there’s no way of knowing when it’s coming.”